Adjustable bed frame member

ABSTRACT

An improved adjustable cross frame member for use in a bed frame having side frame members and another such adjustable cross frame member. The improved member is comprised of first and second elongate L-shaped elements having mutually perpendicular legs. The first element is provided with a plurality of pairs of longitudinally spaced keyhole shaped slots in one leg, each slot having a narrow portion and an enlarged portion, and the second element is provided with a pair of rivets on the corresponding leg, longitudinally spaced to match the slot spacing. The rivets have an enlarged head and a narrow shank portion matching the corresponding slot portions in width so that upon positioning the elements in leg abutting engagement and longitudinally moving the elements relative to each other, the rivets are positioned in the narrow slot portions and hold the elements together positively. In order to lock the elements longitudinally in this position, the first element includes position defining apertures between each pair of slots, and the second element includes a releasable resilient member having a detent between the rivet pair which engages a position defining aperture when the rivets become positioned in the narrow slot portions.

United States Patent 11 1 Harris et al.

1451 Sept. 11, 1973 ADJUSTABLE BED FRAME MEMBER [75] Inventors: George M. Harris; Wilbert E.

Behnke, both of Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Harris-Hub Company, Inc., Harvey,

52 U.S. c1. 5/184, 5 200 R [51] Int. Cl. A47c 19/00 [58] Field of Search ..5/l8ll85,

[56] References Cited UNITED'STATES PATENTS 3,100,304 8/1963 Brandlin et al. 5/202 2,544,274 3/1951 Moeller S/l85 2,567,619 9/1951 Rosenfeld 5/285 3,646,623 3/1972 Harris et al. 5/181 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 972,062 5/1959 Germany 248/408 Primary ExaminerCasmir A. Nunberg Attorney-Max Dressler. John P. Milnamow et al.

[57] ABSTRACT- An improved adjustable cross frame member for use in a bed frame having side frame members and another such adjustable cross frame member. The improved member is comprised of first and second elongate L- shaped elements having mutually perpendicular legs. The first element is provided with a plurality of pairs of longitudinally spaced keyhole shaped slots in one leg, each slot having a narrow portion and an enlarged portion, and the second element is provided with a pair of .rivets on the corresponding leg, longitudinally spaced to match the slot spacing. The rivets have an enlarged head and a narrow shank portion matching the corresponding slot portions in width so that upon positioning the elements in leg abutting engagement and longitudinally moving the elements relative to each other, the rivets are positioned in the narrow slot portions and hold the elements together positively. In order to lock the elements longitudinally in this position, the first element includes position defining apertures between each pair of slots, and the second element includes a releasable resilient member having a detent between the rivet pair which engages a position defining aperture when the rivets become positioned in the narrow slot portions.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE BED FRAME MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to bed frames of the knock-down type and in particular, to frame members comprised of two elements to be fastened together. As detailed inthe related commonly assigned, co-pending application of A. E. Harris and W. E. Behnke on Improved Bed Frame Assembly," Ser. No. 34,061, filed May 4, I970, a problem has long existed in the art because conventional frame members of the above type have not provided positive interlocking engagement between cross frame elements, and have required the use of a large number of fasteners, making it time consuming to assembly and disassemble the bed frame assembly. Furthermore, with the advent of king-size and queen-size" bedding, bed frame vendors have found it necessary to stock undesirably large inventories of bed frame assemblies of a given size, because of the complete lack of an easily manipulable and reliable means for adjusting the width of the bed frame assembly. The invention of the copending application has solved such problems quite well, and has met with a very considerable degree of commercial success in so doing.

In order to further. accommodate the quite evident demand for bed frame members responsive to the above problems, it has also become desirable to furnish an adjustable bed frame member having the advantages of the co-pending invention yet at the same time having a lower cost and having an even more simplified construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the bed frame member of the present invention also solves the problems encountered in the prior art by providing a secure but readily releasable interlocking relationship between the cross frame elements which allows the bed frame to be quicklyand easily assembled to one of a plurality of desired widths.

The improved adjustable bed frame member of the present invention is adapted to be fastened transversely between a pair of elongated horizontally disposed further bed frame members so as to hold such further frame members in spaced parallel relationship. The improved member includes-a first elongate L-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to one of the pair of further bed frame members and comprised of first and second mutually perpendicular flat legs. The first leg is provided with a plurality of pairs of longitudinally spaced slots, each slot being elongated longitudinally and having a narrow portion at one end of predetermined transverse width and an enlarged portion at the opposite end of transverse width greater than that predetermined width.

The adjustable member further comprises a second elongate L-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to theother of the pair of further frame members and comprised of first and second'mutually perpendicular flat legs. Secured to the first leg of the second L-shaped element is at least one pair of rivets extending outwardly transversely from the first leg and spaced apart longitudinally by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the slots of one of the slot pairs. Each rivet has a shank portion similar in width to'the narrow slot portion and an enlarged head portion of transverse width similar to the enlarged slot portion. The rivets are adapted for respective insertion through the enlarged slot portions of one slot pair when like legs of the elongate elements are positioned in face abutting engagement with one another. The shank portions of the rivets are of a height allowing the enlarged head to clear the first leg of the second elongate element, and the rivets are positioned in the narrow slot portions of the slot pair when the first and second elongate elements are moved longitudinally relative to one another so that these elements are positively held against separation.

In order to longitudinally lock the elements in the selected position of adjustment, the improved adjustable member further includes means for retaining the first and second elements in a selected position of adjustment. This means includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced position defining apertures in one of the elongate elements, with one of the position defining apertures being associated with each pair of slots. The means further includes a releasable locking member at a'fixed location on the other of the elongate elements, which is provided with a single lock access aperture at the fixed location. The locking member is a thin, flat, inherently resilient member connected at one end to the other elongate element and passing over the access aperture. The resilient member has a detent at the access aperture adapted to pass therethrough and engage one of the position defining apertures. The resilient member also has a manually graspable portion for withdrawing the member against its resilient bias. The access aperture is spaced from the selected position defining aperture when the rivets are positioned in the enlarged slot portion of the pair of slots associated with this position defining aperture, and are in registry with the selected position defining aperture when the elements are moved to position the rivets in the narrow slot portions. As the rivets travel down the narrow slot portions, the detent is automatically moved into engagement with the selected position defining aperture by the inherent resiliency of the locking member. Thus, the first and second elongate elements are locked in positively held together relationship in a selected position of adjustment until release of the resilient member by manipulating the manually graspable portion to withdraw the detent.

The above described adjustable frame member is extremely inexpensive. The elongate L-shaped elements may be provided by conventional commercially available angle iron stock, and the rivets may also be common commercially available items. The locking member may be fabricated from a short length of common commercially available spring steel, so that all of the desirable advantages of an. adjustable frame member as described in the above mentioned application are provided with a significant reduction in cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS or DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the improved bed frame member of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the improvedmember with its elements locked in a selected position of adjustment; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly in cross-section, of the structure in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRlPTlON While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the improved adjustable cross frame member which is comprised of L-shaped elongated elements 11 and 12, with element 11 including first and second mutually perpendicular legs 13 and 14 of similar transverse width, and with element 12 including first and second mutually perpendicular legs 13 and 14' of similar transverse width. Both elements 11 and 12 are respectively fastened at one end to side frame members 15 and 16, and are positioned so that both leg portions 13 and 13' are vertically oriented and both leg portions 14 and 14' extend outwardly horizontally from the upper edges of legs 13 and 13', respectively, and in the same sense. As is well understood in the art, cross frame member 10 cooperates with an additional identically constructed cross frame member (not shown) spaced therefrom and parallel therewith to form a bed frame, in combination with side frame members 15 and 16. Elements 11 and 12 may be formed of commercially available angle iron stock, and hence are relatively inexpensive.

Element 12 is provided with a plurality of pairs 19, and 21 of keyhole shaped slots 18 lying along a common line in vertical leg 13' generally medially of the leg. The spacing between the slots of each pair is the same, and one slot 18 may be common to two such pairs of slots as illustrated by slot pairs 19 and 20; likewise the slot pairs may be longitudinally spaced from one another, as is pair 21 from pairs 19 and 20. Slot pair 19 corresponds to the widest position of adjustment of member 10, while slot pair 20 corresponds to the medial position of adjustment, with slot pair 21 corresponding to the narrowest position of adjustment. These positions relate to bedding of king-, queenand regular-size, respectively.

As may be seen most advantageously in FIG. 2, each slot 18 is elongated, and includes a narrow longitudinal portion 25 at one end of predetermined transverse width which is a small fraction of the total transverse width of the leg 13, and an enlarged generally circular portion 26 at the opposite end, of transverse width or diameter larger than that of the narrow portion 25. All slots 18 in element 12 are oriented with their narrow portions 25 in the same sense, in this case to the left of their enlarged portion 26, although they could as well be all oriented to the right.

Element 12 is further provided with a plurality of position defining apertures 28 of generally rectangular cross section in leg 14. Each pair of slots 19, 20 and 21 has associated with it one of the apertures 28, and in the illustrated embodiment the aperture is positioned between the slots of each slot pair although it should be recognized that the slots 28 may also be positioned elsewhere.

Element 11, on the other hand, has secured to it near the end opposite that fastened to member 15 a pair of rivets 29 extending outwardly from leg 13. Just as is the case with slots 18, the rivets are positioned generally midway on leg 13 in a line that is parallel with leg 14, and the rivets are longitudinally spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the slots of a pair, as may best be appreciated from FIG. 2.

Each rivet 29 includes an enlarged head 31; and a reduced diameter shank which includes a first portion 33 adjacent to head 30, a second and further reduced diameter portion 32 which passes through a clearance hole in leg 13, and an end portion 30 which is headed over into engagement with the upright inner face of leg 13. The shoulder provided between the rivet portions 32 and 33 engages the face of leg 13 on the opposite side thereof from headed portion 30, so that the rivets 29 are positively secured to the leg 13. As is evident from FIG. 3, rivet portions 33 are substantially equal to the thickness of leg 13 of element 12. Rivet portions 31-33 are of circular cross section, with portion 33 having a diameter generally similar to the predetermined width of the narrow slot portion 25. Enlarged rivet heads 31 have a diameter slightly smaller than the width of the enlarged slot portions 26. Neither the shank of the rivet nor the head, or the enlarged slot portion need necessarily be of circular cross section, but in any case, the rivet head must be insertable through the enlarged portion and be greater in width than the narrow slot portion, and the shank portion must be positionable in the narrow slot portion 25.

Located on the side of leg 13 of element 11 opposite that of the rivet heads 31 is an elongated, thin, generally flat and inherently resilient locking member 35 secured to the leg 13 by fastener 36 so as to normally lie flat-against the leg surface. Locking member 35 extends in a longitudinal direction generally parallel with leg 14. Leg 13 of element 11 is further provided with a single lock access aperture 37 at a location between the rivets 29. The resilient locking member 35, which may be of spring metal, such as common spring steel, extends longitudinally over the access aperture 37 and incorporates a detent portion 38 comprised of an outwardly bent section 39 that extends through access aperture 37, and which has a rounded end portion 40. At the end of the resilient member 35 opposite fastener 36, a manually graspable portion 42 is provided by yet another bent section 45 extending in a direction opposite from detent section 39, and having a still further bent section 46 extending outwardly from the end of bent section 45 generally parallel with the major portion of member 35. The locking member 35 applies a bias to detent 38, urging it through aperture 37 to normally protrude beyond leg 14, detent 38 being of a height at least equal to the combined thicknesses of the legs 13 and 13' of the elements 11 and 12. By grasping portion 42 and pulling member 35 against the inherent bias thereof, detent 38 may be withdrawn within leg 14 of element 11.

Assembly of the elements 11 and 12 is carried out by bringing together the like corresponding legs of the elements in face abutting engagement so that the rivet head portions 31 are inserted through the enlarged slot portions 26 of one of the slot pairs 19, 20 or 21. With the elements 11 and 12 in this position, the end 40 of the detent 38 engages the adjacent wall of leg 13', and locking member 35 is flexed outwardly relative to leg 13. Since these pairs respectively occupy different longitudinally spaced positions on element 12, they represent different lengths of the assembled members which may be selected by the assembler. Accordingly, the choice of pair 19 will yield the longest length adjustment of the member 10, while selection of pair 20 yields a somewhat shorter length, and pair 21 a substantially shorter length.

In order to cause the elements 11 and 12 to be held against separation, the elements 11 and 12 are moved longitudinally with respect to each other to move each of the inserted rivets to a position within the narrow slot portions 25 of the selected slot pair. The rivet shank portion 33 then rides within narrow slot portion 25, while rivet head portions 31 overlap leg 13' of element 12 to hold that leg closely to leg 13 of element 11, thus preventing the elements of member 10 from coming apart as long as this position of the rivet pair within the selected slot pair is maintained. At the same time that the elements 11 and 12 are moved longitudinally with respect to each other to position the rivets in the narrow slot portions 25, the detent 38 is also being moved along the inside surface of leg 13' toward one of position defining apertures 28 which is associated with the particular slot pair and its corresponding length adjustment. All the apertures 28 are somewhat larger in cross section than that of detent 38, and are positioned with respect to their respective associated slot pairs 19, 21 so that the detent 38, urged by the bias of member 35, automatically moves into engagement with the aperture when its associated slot pair, and the length adjustment corresponding to it, is selected and the rivets 29 have been moved well into the narrow slot portions of the selected slot pair.

Once the detent is in place within the selected position defining aperture the members 11 and 12 are not only in positively fastened together relationship, but also locked therein, since relative longitudinal movement of the members cannot take place. The member 10 is thus selectably adjusted to any one of the plurality of lengths, and the result is a rigid member whose length is held indefinitely until the-locking member is released by withdrawing detent 38 from the selected aperture by pulling portion 42, whereupon the adjustment operation may be repeated and a new length, or even the same length, selected.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable elongated bed frame member adapted to extend transversely between a pair of horizontally disposed further bed frame members so as to hold said further bed frame members in spaced parallel relationship, said adjustable member comprising: a first elongated L-shaped element having first means adjacent one end for fastening said first element to one of said pair of further bed frame members, said element including first and second mutually perpendicular fiat legs; a second elongate L-shaped element having second means adjacent one end for fastening said second element to the other of said pair of further frame members and including first and second mutually perpendicular flat legs; at least one protrusion extending from said first leg of said first element; means defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in said first leg of said second element permitting said protrusion to be inserted when like legs of said elongate elements are positioned in face-abutting engagement with one another; means defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced, position-defining apertures in said second elongate elements, with one of said apertures being associated with each opening on said second elongate element, said first elongate element being provided with a single access aperture longitudinally spaced from said protrusion and positioned in registration with a selected one of said position-defining apertures when the protrusion is positioned within the opening associated with said selected position-defining aperture; a releasable locking member extending generally along one of the legs of said first elongate element, said member being secured at one end thereof at a fixed location upon said one leg and being movable toward and away therefrom, said member having an insert at the other end thereof adaptable to be passed through said access aperture and into said selected position-defining aperture upon the movement of said member toward said access aperture, whereby upon such passage of said insert into said selected position-defining aperture and said access aperture, said first and second elongate elements are locked in positively held together relationship and position of adjustment until movement of said member away from said access aperture to withdraw said insert from said selected position-defining aperture.

2. A bed frame member as in claim 1, in which said locking member, access aperture and protrusion are all located upon the same leg of said second elongate element. 3. A bed frame member as in claim 1, in which said first leg of said said first element has a pair of protrusions, and said longitudinally-spaced openings are arranged in a plurality of pairs, with said protrusions being spaced apart longitudinally by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the openings of one of said opening pairs.

4. A bed frame member as in claim 3, in which one of said openings is common to two of said pairs of openings.

5. A bed frame member as in claim 3, in which each of said openings is in the form of a longitudinally elongated slot having a narrow portion at one end of predetermined transverse width and an enlarged portion at the opposite end of transverse width greater than said predetermined width, and each protrusion is in the form of a rivet extending outwardly from said first leg of said first element, each rivet having a shank portion similar in width to said narrow slot portion and an enlarged head having an external dimension larger than said narrow slot portion and smaller than said enlarged slot portion, said shank portion being of a height allowing said enlarged head to clear said first leg of said second elongate element, said rivets being adapted for respective insertion through the enlarged slot portions of a selected one of a slot pair when like legs of said elongate elements are positioned in face-abutting engagement with one another, said rivets being positioned in the narrow slot portions of said selected slot pair when said first and second elongate elements are moved longitudinally relative to one another so that said first and second elements are positively held against separation.

6. A bed frame member as in claim 5, in which said locking member comprises a thin, flat, elongate, inherently resilient member connected at one end of said other elongate element and passing over said access aperture, said resilient member having a detent defining said insert at said access aperture adapted to pass therethrough and engage within the selected position defining aperture when said rivets are positioned in the the selected one of said position-defining apertures when said rivets are positioned in the enlarged portions of said slots said access aperture being finally positioned in registry with the selected position-defining aperture when said rivets are positioned in the narrow slot portions of said associated slot pair.

* it i i i 

1. An adjustable elongated bed frame member adapted to extend transversely between a pair of horizontally disposed further bed frame members so as to hold said further bed frame members in spaced parallel relationship, said adjustable member comprising: a first elongated L-shaped element having first means adjacent one end for fastening said first element to one of said pair of further bed frame members, said element including first and second mutually perpendicular flat legs; a second elongate Lshaped element having second means adjacent one end for fastening said second element to the other of said pair of further frame members and including first and second mutually perpendicular flat legs; at least one protrusion extending from said first leg of said first element; means defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in said first leg of said second element permitting said protrusion to be inserted when like legs of said elongate elements are positioned in face-abutting engagement with one another; means defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced, position-defining apertures in said second elongate elements, with one of said apertures being associated with each opening on said second elongate element, said first elongate element being provided with a single access aperture longitudinally spaced from said protrusion and positioned in registration with a selected one of said position-defining apertures when the protrusion is positioned within the opening associated with said selected position-defining aperture; a releasable locking member extending generally along one of the legs of said first elongate element, said member being secured at one end thereof at a fixed location upon said one leg and being movable toward and away therefrom, said member having an insert at the other end thereof adaptable to be passed through said access aperture and into said selected position-defining aperture upon the movement of said member toward said access aperture, whereby upon such passage of said insert into said selected position-defining aperture and said access aperture, said first and second elongate elements are locked in positively held together relationship and position of adjustment until movement oF said member away from said access aperture to withdraw said insert from said selected position-defining aperture.
 2. A bed frame member as in claim 1, in which said locking member, access aperture and protrusion are all located upon the same leg of said second elongate element.
 3. A bed frame member as in claim 1, in which said first leg of said said first element has a pair of protrusions, and said longitudinally-spaced openings are arranged in a plurality of pairs, with said protrusions being spaced apart longitudinally by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the openings of one of said opening pairs.
 4. A bed frame member as in claim 3, in which one of said openings is common to two of said pairs of openings.
 5. A bed frame member as in claim 3, in which each of said openings is in the form of a longitudinally elongated slot having a narrow portion at one end of predetermined transverse width and an enlarged portion at the opposite end of transverse width greater than said predetermined width, and each protrusion is in the form of a rivet extending outwardly from said first leg of said first element, each rivet having a shank portion similar in width to said narrow slot portion and an enlarged head having an external dimension larger than said narrow slot portion and smaller than said enlarged slot portion, said shank portion being of a height allowing said enlarged head to clear said first leg of said second elongate element, said rivets being adapted for respective insertion through the enlarged slot portions of a selected one of a slot pair when like legs of said elongate elements are positioned in face-abutting engagement with one another, said rivets being positioned in the narrow slot portions of said selected slot pair when said first and second elongate elements are moved longitudinally relative to one another so that said first and second elements are positively held against separation.
 6. A bed frame member as in claim 5, in which said locking member comprises a thin, flat, elongate, inherently resilient member connected at one end of said other elongate element and passing over said access aperture, said resilient member having a detent defining said insert at said access aperture adapted to pass therethrough and engage within the selected position defining aperture when said rivets are positioned in the narrow slot portions of the associated slot pair to lock first and second elements in said positively held together relationship and position of adjustment, said resilient member also having a manually graspable portion for withdrawing the member against its resilient bias and releasing said elements.
 7. A bed frame member as in claim 6, in which said access aperture is initially spaced longitudinally from the selected one of said position-defining apertures when said rivets are positioned in the enlarged portions of said slots said access aperture being finally positioned in registry with the selected position-defining aperture when said rivets are positioned in the narrow slot portions of said associated slot pair. 